Chapter 61 - The Black Flame Dragon Playing with the Dragon and Phoenix (3)

"Eldest Senior Brother!"

"Eldest Senior Brother!"

"Hyungnim!"

"Oppa!"

The junior disciples suddenly swarmed over in droves, but I was so out of breath that I could not answer them.

The journey back with Moyong Gang had been terrible.

That damn old man constantly complained about this and that, and made it a habit to boss me around.

Saying he suddenly wanted to eat meat.

Telling me to show him my footwork.

Asking since when I started learning martial arts.

And wondering if I had perhaps stumbled upon some fateful encounter.

I was on the verge of losing my mind due to his barrage of trivial questions.

I had even seriously pondered whether Moyong Gang would respond with the Wind God Breaking Sword or act like an herb gatherer if he was beaten up by an opponent during his eccentric travels.

Still, I had somehow managed to coax and appease him, thinking we would barely make it in time. But when we passed through Hefei and I heard that the Dragon-Phoenix Summit had already departed that morning, my eyes rolled back and I left Moyong Gang(?) behind to dash all the way here.

"Oppa. Here, water. Please drink some water."

I gulped down the water Wang Soso handed me without even being able to say thank you.

"Haa..."

After I barely managed to catch my breath, Jin Taesan asked.

"What is it? Suddenly... just what..."

"Father."

"... Huh?"

"An old man and his grandson will be arriving shortly. Please treat them like honored guests."

"Hm?"

"You must never despise him as an insignificant old man with a dirty temper. And you must not ignore him just because he looks like an herb gatherer. Those guys from the Dragon-Phoenix Summit... no, you must serve him as if the Murim Alliance Leader has arrived."

"What does that... You punk!"

Without even listening to my father's reply, I stepped out into the grand courtyard and offered my greetings to the Sect Leader.

"I am late, Sect Leader."

"Right. Have you had a good trip?"

"Yes. I apologize. I arrived late, unaware that guests had come like this."

"It is fine since you are here."

The Dragon-Phoenix Summit's gazes looking at me were not good.

The stares unanimously converging on me made me feel as if I had become the uninvited guest.

Whether they did or not, my gaze was directed entirely at one single place.

'You are still the same.'

Unlike the rest of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit, who were full of hostility or playfulness, she was the only one anxiously fretting over this situation.

She had not changed at all, both in my past life and in my present life.

"Junior, it is fine to offer your greetings, but do you not think this is the wrong time?"

Jong Byeokgi, who stood behind Hwa Jeongsan, spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

"Hah! The elders are currently having an important discussion. Is that what the Taiyi Sect teaches?"

Bringing up the Taiyi Sect's teachings while inside the Taiyi Sect—just how arrogant must one be to speak so brazenly?

"Senior Jong. If word gets out that the Flying Cloud Divine Wind of Mount Cangshan is merely catering to the plum blossom's whims, the people of the world will laugh at you."

"What!"

"!"

"!"

The figures of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit wore surprised expressions upon hearing the words that came out of my mouth.

Feeling insulted, Jong Byeokgi even gripped his sword hilt and tried to draw it.

It was only after Ilmyeong blocked his hand that Jong Byeokgi realized he had tried to draw his sword, looking surprised himself.

Ilmyeong spoke calmly.

"Young Warrior, it does not seem like a place for you to interject."

"I am the head disciple of the Taiyi Sect, Jin Sowoon. I interrupted knowing it was impolite."

"If you knew you were committing an impoliteness, why are you still doing so?"

"The ancient sages said to treat even that which lacks propriety with propriety, but this lowly one is narrow-minded and has not yet reached that level."

"..."

Ilmyeong's face stiffened rigidly at the words criticizing Hwa Jeongsan's attitude.

"To request a sparring match with a Sect Leader, who is like the father of a sect, is there not far too vast a difference in generation between him and Great Warrior Hwa? Furthermore, requesting a sparring match unilaterally without any prior attempt to build rapport is contrary to etiquette. There is no way Great Warrior Hwa could be unaware of this, so does this not mean you are disregarding the entire Taiyi Sect?"

Hwa Jeongsan's face, along with the faces of the others, was stiffening severely.

"However, since you have come from afar and so desperately wished to taste the sword forms of the Taiyi Sword Emperor, I stepped forward in his stead."

"... Are you even capable of receiving my sword, brat?"

I scoffed.

"Is it not a light sparring match? It is merely an occasion to share knowledge by showing off sword forms, so why does skill matter?"

Hwa Jeongsan, who had been grinding his teeth while looking at me, suddenly turned to look at Hong Mungi and spoke.

"Sect Leader, if I crush this child and defeat all the disciples you desire to put forward, will you grant me a lesson then?"

Hwa Jeongsan spoke confidently, as if declaring he would outright smash the sect's dojo.

Even though the Taiyi Sect members' anger was steadily rising at Hwa Jeongsan's blatant attitude, Hwa Jeongsan paid it no mind whatsoever.

"... I understand."

Eventually, Hong Mungi nodded heavily.

As Hwa Jeongsan and I moved to the training ground, everyone else relocated along with us.

"But are you really going to use live blades?"

"Are you getting scared now?"

"Is there really a need to risk our lives when we are just sparring?"

"I will teach you something. True skill always emerges in the moment when one's life is in the greatest peril."

Those words were already etched into my memories.

Because those were the exact words he had said in my past life while thrashing me to the brink of death under the guise of sparring practice back when I was serving as Gye Cheolyeong's servant.

A smile spread across my lips as I recalled that time.

"Understood."

I stepped onto the training ground and drew the Black Dragon Sword.

A strange glint flickered in Hwa Jeongsan's eyes at its appearance, completely black from the blade to the hilt.

"A treasured sword cannot replace skill."

"I do not carry it around to replace skill. It is simply that a sword fitting my skill naturally found its way into my hands."

"You are all talk. As expected of a descendant of the Taiyi Sword Emperor."

It was an obviously sarcastic remark, but it did not hurt me at all right now.

"Thank you."

"... I will yield three forms to you."

"Will you be alright with that?"

"Hmph, that is the only opportunity you will get to use."

"Understood."

I looked at my palms. Palms that had grown hardened with calluses from countless hours of training in my present life. In the past, there wasn't a single day without eczema on my hands from washing Hwa Jeongsan's socks and undergarments.

"Then the first will be the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique."

I ground my teeth, thinking of those times.

* * *

"This brat is quite exhausted."

Moyong Jaehwa clicked his tongue at Moyong Gang's words.

"That is all because of you, Grandfather. Why did you drag our horses into the mountains midway just to hunt a wild boar?"

"You brat! How can a person live on porridge alone? One has to eat meat from time to time."

"Even now, we can arrive quickly if we use movement techniques."

"Then our identities would be exposed, would they not!"

Moyong Jaehwa felt the limits of his patience once again at Moyong Gang's words.

He even had the irreverent thought of wishing he wasn't his real grandfather, or rather, wishing that his grandfather wasn't an absolute master of Jianghu known as the Wind God Breaking Sword.

This current period was an extremely important time for Moyong Jaehwa.

Originally, he had no interest in the Moyong Noble Clan's sword, nor did he want to take the regular Murim Academy exam, but his father had gone to find the Fire Monkey's core just for his sake.

However, his father—whom he had undoubtedly believed would never suffer anything terrible anywhere, even if he wasn't quite at his grandfather's level—went missing, and the household had been in an uproar over the crisis of losing the Minor Patriarch.

His grandfather had immediately led the warriors of the Moyong clan out to search for his father, and he himself had followed after such a grandfather.

Fortunately, his father reappeared after a month.

The message received via carrier pigeon stated that he had preserved his life by receiving great help from a righteous warrior of the Taiyi Sect named Jin Sowoon.

Thanking the heavens at the news of his father's return, he was about to head back home after steeling his resolve to do his best in preparing for the exam, when...

"What a clumsy fool. To think the so-called Minor Patriarch of the Moyong Noble Clan got ambushed?"

For some reason, his grandfather, severely offended, decided to begin his eccentric travels instead of returning home.

His grandfather's eccentric travels weren't just a day or two's affair, so just as he was about to ignore him and go back, his grandfather struck his acupoints, sealed his Dantian and blood vessels, and forced him to participate in the eccentric journey.

"I have to prepare for the regular Murim Academy exam, Grandfather!"

"This experience is more important than the exam you are taking!"

Spouting such nonsensical stubbornness, his grandfather forbade him from wearing the Moyong Noble Clan's attire, even put a human-skin mask on him, and disguised them as an herb gatherer and his grandson to begin their eccentric journey.

The journey into Jianghu that began in such a way was a continuous series of trials for Moyong Jaehwa.

"Hey~ Your hyung here is hungry because he has no money, so how about you empty your pockets?"

Getting his pockets emptied by sword-wielding thugs on the road was just the basics,

"This punk? Hey! If you bumped into someone, you should apologize!"

"It was just our shoulders brushing past each other!"

He had to get beaten until he had two black eyes just for bumping shoulders.

"We need to eat some food, so get out of those seats."

He had to be chased out of his seat before he could even eat half of his food.

No matter how weak his body was, it was still a body that had trained in the Moyong Noble Clan's martial arts.

Moyong Jaehwa had to experience harsh treatments he would never have suffered if he only had his internal energy.

Was the life of a commoner who had not learned martial arts truly this cruel?

While chewing over such agony, Moyong Jaehwa reached a certain enlightenment.

'Ah! Grandfather gave me these trials so I could realize this. Only by knowing weakness can one devote themselves further to strength!'

Moyong Jaehwa's usual neglect of swordsmanship must have also been a trigger for this eccentric journey.

Through this enlightenment, Moyong Jaehwa resolved to further advance in his martial arts, and he conveyed this resolution to his grandfather.

"Eh? What are you talking about? A lesson? And what is this enlightenment?"

"...??"

Moyong Gang simply tilted his head, saying he had no idea what he meant, and continued his eccentric travels.

With the mindset of trying to reduce the amount of unfair beatings he received, he averted his eyes from all the ugly and dirty things happening around them.

He ignored the thugs harassing women, and he ignored the warriors bullying the peasants setting up street stalls to do business.

However, whenever Moyong Jaehwa made an effort to ignore them, the one who stepped forward was Moyong Gang.

"To think a man born with balls between his legs does nothing but harass others. Your mother must have lamented so much after giving birth to you that she couldn't even stomach meat soup."

"...???"

"It is said that when a sword-wielding warrior loses his Dao, he becomes a street thug. Seeing the state of you lot, the so-called master who taught you martial arts must have also been some bastard stealing pocket change in the back alleys."

"...!!!"

Moyong Gang's tongue was sharp and stinging, perfectly suiting his nickname as the Eccentric Warrior.

When the thugs and warriors, their eyes rolling back in rage at Moyong Gang's curses, immediately raised their fists and swords, Moyong Gang would flee in panic and hide behind Moyong Jaehwa.

"I-I do not know this old man."

"You look far too similar to claim you don't know him!"

This seemed to be the reason why he had put similar-looking human-skin masks on them, claiming they were playing the roles of a grandfather and grandson.

And so, it began to be taken for granted that Moyong Gang would dish out the curses while Moyong Jaehwa would take the beatings.

Whenever that happened, his grandfather, having dodged the beating, would put on an expression that showed he could absolutely not hold back his laughter right where Moyong Jaehwa's gaze could reach.

Having reached this state, Moyong Jaehwa's disposition also began to twist as far as it could twist.

His grandfather, who always played the role of a powerless old man to avoid the thugs' fists whenever an incident occurred, had gone beyond being detestable to the point of being downright hateful.

"Why are you hitting me! The one who cursed at you is my grandfather over there!!"

"..."

A thug with a tattoo on his forearm that looked like either a dragon or a snake paused his swinging fists to look back and forth between Moyong Jaehwa and Moyong Gang.

"Though I may be part of the Underworld, I cannot stand a shameless piece of trash who sells out his own grandfather! Know that today marks the date of your death anniversary."

Having been beaten unconscious like that, Moyong Jaehwa could no longer resist against either thugs or the martial artists of Jianghu.

They say there is no strongman before a beating; after being beaten to this extent, the righteous words that used to pour out of him in a fit of temper could no longer make it past his throat.

"Tsk, tsk. Can a man really not say what needs to be said just because he took a few hits?"

"..."

His grandfather's provocation made Moyong Jaehwa feel even more furious and wronged.

"Just where are you trying to go! I am going to head back now!"

"Oh? I heard the kid who saved your father is from the Taiyi Sect, so I was going to drop by to express my gratitude. If you are going to be like that, then go back. It is simply Sangwon's fault for birthing such a shameless child who does not even know the grace of someone saving his one and only father."

"..."

Ultimately, Moyong Jaehwa had no choice but to keep his mouth firmly shut and follow Moyong Gang.

Hoping that there would be no more causes for trouble.

However, contrary to Moyong Jaehwa's wishes, they encountered bandits on the road to the Taiyi Sect, and just as he was about to get beaten by the bandits again thanks to remarks like 'A man's balls...', 'Since your performance in bed is lackluster...', a heaven-sent savior descended from the sky to rescue Moyong Jaehwa.

"I am Jin Sowoon of the Taiyi Sect."

His identity was none other than the very 'savior' who had rescued his father.

He tried to act as if he recognized him out of gladness, but Moyong Gang firmly stopped him.

'He is the one who saved Father. Such behavior will surely be an impoliteness.'

'Stay still.'

'At this rate, the honor of the Moyong Noble Clan will plummet to the ground.'

'Tsk! I told you to stay still?!'

Moyong Jaehwa had worried that even Jin Sowoon might lose his temper at Moyong Gang's rude behaviors and swing his fists, but he was a person with a tremendous character that surpassed his imagination.

Watching Jin Sowoon tolerate all those unbearable tantrums despite knowing that he was actually Moyong Gang, Moyong Jaehwa thought that this must be the presence of a truly 'magnanimous person.'

"Seeing how Great Warrior Jin left in such a hurry, does it not mean something has happened?"

"What kind of urgent matter?"

"Like a problem arising in his sect."

"Did he not say he was heading back because of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit's visit?"

"Why is the Dragon-Phoenix Summit's visit such an urgent matter?"

"The Dragon-Phoenix Summit is originally an institution meant to show gratitude, but sometimes they turn into a rather rude 'inspection' agency to test the 108 Peaks."

"Pardon? What does that mean?"

"Are the members of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit not produced by concentrating all the capabilities of their respective sects? What do you think happens when such individuals go and stir up the lower sects of the 108 Peaks?"

Moyong Jaehwa's face turned sullen.

"You mean the Dragon-Phoenix Summit does such things?"

"Therefore, you too should hold no illusions about the likes of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit."

"I hold no such illusions. Anyway, if that is the case, this is no time to be doing this, is it? If something were to happen to the Taiyi Sect... I cannot just stand by. Grandfather. Please unseal my acupoints at once."

"Tsk, tsk. Stop that, you fool. Do you still not know even after seeing that kid Jin Sowoon unfold his movement technique a moment ago?"

"..."

The speed certainly did seem extraordinary. But even so, was it really that big of a deal? There were more than just one or two movement techniques in Jianghu that solely focused on speed.

"Tsk, tsk. To think you lack an eye for these things this much."

"What are you saying?"

"You couldn't properly see his footwork when we met those bandits either, could you?"

"... No."

"And someone like you claims he wants to take the regular Murim Academy exam. Tsk. You will have to take this upcoming Murim Academy exam alongside monsters like Jin Sowoon."

"Monsters?"

"If a brat who has not even reached the age of twenty harbors a hundred years of time within him, that makes him a monster."

"Just what are you talking..."

"Quiet!"

Moyong Jaehwa had many more questions, but he shut his mouth upon seeing Moyong Gang begin acting like an herb gatherer once again.

If he interfered with his grandfather during his eccentric travels, there was no telling what kind of severe punishment he would suffer.

As they entered the Taiyi Sect like that, a large-built man approached them with long strides.

Moyong Jaehwa's body now stiffened just from someone approaching with a scary face.

Moyong Jaehwa felt a sense of shame at his own pathetic state.

The man asked in a gruff voice.

"Are you the ones who came with Jin Sowoon... that brat?"

"Oh my... Yes. That is correct."

"I heard the story from Sowoon. I will escort you inside."

"It is fine. To escort country bumpkins like us. Just watching from the side is more than enough."

"Not at all. The Taiyi Sect does not treat guests that way. Please come this way."

At the first reception he had received while playing the role of an herb gatherer, Moyong Jaehwa felt something welling up within his chest.

"Excuse me... Sir... no, My Lord, by any chance, how are you related to Great Warrior Jin Sowoon..."

Asking because there was a strange resemblance in their faces, the man smiled awkwardly.

"I am that brat's father. I am Jin Taesan, who manages the Taiyi Sect's External Hall."

Seeing him even politely cup his fist in a formal greeting now, Moyong Jaehwa could not help but be moved.

At that moment, Jin Sowoon and those who appeared to be from the Dragon-Phoenix Summit were standing in opposition in the middle of the grand courtyard.

Moyong Jaehwa spotted Moyong Seol among the Dragon-Phoenix Summit members, but he could not act as though he knew her.

"Since other guests have currently arrived at the Taiyi Sect... I will escort you further inside."

At Jin Taesan's attempt to lead them inside, Moyong Jaehwa quickly stepped forward and spoke.

"No, it is fine. By any chance, could we broaden our experi... no, just watch from here? Having lived in the mountains our entire lives, we have never had the chance to see such a rare spectacle."

Having followed his grandfather on his eccentric travels, such lines were now flowing out of him naturally.

Beside him, Moyong Gang was nodding with a pleased smile, a sight that he found incredibly hateful to look at.

"Ah... well, it does not matter, but it would be best to keep a bit of distance. The aftermath of the sparring match might spread to where you are."

"Of course. Of course."

He did not know what the situation was, but Hwa Jeongsan and Jin Sowoon were about to begin a sparring match.

"Hehe, it seems you are also slowly starting to like this wandering journey. Seeing how those lines come out so naturally."

"I am not!"

Moyong Jaehwa unconsciously snapped at him.

"Watch carefully. I followed him all the way here specifically to show you this."

"What does that..."

"The regular Murim Academy exam will be packed with kids like that."

"..."

Moyong Jaehwa could only tilt his head at Moyong Gang's words.

It was because he had never heard Moyong Gang praise a warrior of such a young age.

He wasn't looking... down on him, but regardless, wasn't he merely a disciple of the Taiyi Sect?

'I suppose I will find out if I watch the sparring match.'

Moyong Jaehwa began to focus on the sparring match with a heart cheering for Jin Sowoon.

* * *

The first form was incredibly ordinary.

Jin Sowoon's sword aimed at Hwa Jeongsan's vital points, but to an expert of Hwa Jeongsan's caliber, such a sword provoked no great inspiration.

"Haa!"

The second clash.

A slightly modified attack came in, but it still lacked sharpness.

It was too slow to be considered a fast sword, and too light to be considered a heavy sword.

"Is this all you have?"

Hwa Jeongsan's anger slowly began to boil up.

"Did you not wish to taste the skill of the Taiyi Sword Emperor?"

"If the Taiyi Sword Emperor, a legendary expert, possessed this kind of skill, then the rumors truly were absurd."

"To insult the Taiyi Sword Emperor in the Taiyi Sect, you must not value your life."

The third clash.

SWISH.

Perhaps due to the provocation, the blade piercing towards a vital point along with the sound of parting air was quite sharp.

However, to Hwa Jeongsan, who had even parried the fast sword forms of the Hainan Sect, this level of fast sword wasn't even a fast sword.

"It is neither a fast sword nor a heavy sword. Just what is the identity of this sword technique?"

"It is a sword containing the profound intentions of the Taiyi Sword Emperor. It is a foundational martial art called the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique."

"Is that so? But what to do, you have already used up all three forms."

"Does it not begin now?"

"Hmph!"

The reason he had yielded three forms was to at least match it to ten forms.

Because it would be no fun if he crushed his opponent in less than ten forms.

"If I had known it was this kind of sword technique, there would have been no need to even see ten forms."

Could he even endure a single form, let alone ten?

Hwa Jeongsan immediately unleashed his Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.

The scent of plum blossoms began to spread across the entire training ground.

Because Plum Blossom Swordsmanship had such a strong characteristic, it was impossible not to recognize it. Exclamations naturally slipped out from all around.

"Th-This is the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship."

"It really smells like plum blossoms?"

Following that, plum blossoms formed from Sword Qi began to scatter and fall freely in the air.

Though they looked beautiful to the eye, each and every one was a terrifying thing aimed at vital points.

"It is over."

Hwa Jeongsan had no intention of taking his life or severing his arm.

However, he did intend to fix the habits of that arrogant junior who didn't know how high the sky was by inflicting some internal injuries at the very least.

But.

"Huh...?"

A strange glint flickered in the eyes of the people who had been captivated by the mesmerizing plum blossoms.

Following their gazes, Hwa Jeongsan could soon not contain his shock.

SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!

It clearly looked as though Jin Sowoon had only swung his sword once.

Yet, over a dozen sword shapes appeared in the air, completely extinguishing all the plum blossoms that were aiming for Jin Sowoon's acupoints.

Dumbfounded by a sword technique he was seeing for the first time in his life, Hwa Jeongsan muttered without realizing it.

"What in the..."

"This is the Great Heaven Sword Technique."

"What the...!!"

Hwa Jeongsan, who had been muttering, opened his eyes wide.

"Did you throw away the first three forms from the beginning?"

It was a nonsensical thing.

A sparring match between a Mount Hua Sect disciple and a Taiyi Sect disciple.

When doing his utmost in the first three forms would not have been enough, he threw away three forms?

Jin Sowoon, who should have answered, was merely smiling leisurely.

"You have lost your mind."

"Is this the time to worry about me? When the dust has vanished in an instant like this."

"Dust...?"

If the word that mocked the Taiyi Sect was Taiyi Sword Emperor, the word that mocked the Mount Hua Sect was dust.

It was a term used to mock them when their mastery of the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship had not reached ten-tenths, resulting in the plum blossom shapes failing to take form.

However, there was no one who would actually utter such words out loud.

Since the Sword Qi had already materialized, every single one of them was no different from a fatal move, and anyone who dared to speak those words had invariably met their death.

"I am talking about those things flying around in the air."

"... Hah!"

At Jin Sowoon's completely relaxed attitude, Hwa Jeongsan's reason finally flew out the window.

"I was planning to go easy on you... but you have changed my mind."

"..."

"Make sure to regret your reckless running of your mouth for the rest of your life."

Hwa Jeongsan's eyes turned purple, and his martial robes swelled as if they were going to burst.

Seeing that, someone muttered softly.

"Purple Cloud Divine Art..."

The secret martial art that was said to be passed down only to the true disciples of the Mount Hua Sect had begun to be unleashed.

"Let us see you properly clear away this dust."

The training ground was quite large for just two people to stand on.

Above it, plum blossoms bloomed, covering the sky.

At that illusion-like sight, the people could not help but be amazed.

"... This is the plum blossom of Mount Hua."

"... But if Senior Brother Jin gets hit by this..."

"No!!"

As if mocking the people's screams, the plum blossoms dancing in the sky began to fiercely shoot down toward Jin Sowoon.